IDENTITY IN CHRIST

By Kehinde Kolade

SAFACS 2023 ENTRY 15

It was around 2 am in the morning when I woke up covered in sweat. My white armless top was firmly glued to my body because of the amount of sweat on it, I could hear my heartbeat racing so fast as though it would break out of its cage. I was breathing heavily and looked around in the dark trying to remember where I placed my torch before I slept off.

‘‘Gabriel!’’, my brother’s voice jolted me back to life. I did not know I was unconsciously talking to myself while looking for my torch. I sat against the wall, placed my head on my legs as I folded myself on the bed, and sobbed quietly when he turned on the light. John was horrified but kept quiet till I was done.

‘‘What is wrong? Talk to me’’ He said.

‘‘It has been reoccurring for the past five nights and I noticed it started the day after I went for the altar call in church. Whenever I sleep, I see hands pressing me against the bed. I will want to shout but I will lose my voice. I will want to touch you so you can help me but I will not be able to move. What is happening to me? Was it because I went to the front to give my life to Jesus? Why is it after I have given my life to Christ that this is happening to me?’’ As I spoke, my voice shook. I started shaking, it was as though a cold ran through my spine.

‘‘I want you to calm down for a moment, pick up your Bible and open it to Romans chapter eight, the first and second verses. Read it to yourself, and you will see that it assures us that once we are in union there is therefore no condemnation for us. The devil knows you are ignorant of this and that is why he is taking advantage of you. What you do not know, you cannot become and enforce because the Bible clearly instructs us in Second Corinthians chapter two verse eleven that we should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil so that he will not take advantage of us. Now this is what I want you to do, having realized your position, you will pray and enforce your freedom over the devil.’’

After John spoke these words we began to pray and it lasted for about forty-five minutes until I felt a relief in my heart which he referred to the peace of God. I slept well that night, it had been so long since I slept without fear of what will become of my sleep and that was the last time the incident occurred. It made me realize more than anything that in the kingdom of God, knowledge is important in the growth process; what you do not know you cannot become and enforce.